Fishing rules for the Håelva River

Fishing in the Håelva River is regulated by general fishing rules for the Rogaland region, as well as specific rules for the Håelva River. More information on the applicable rules can be found below.

CURRENT FISHING RULES FOR THE HÅELVA RIVER

Before using the fishing license (and to ensure everyone has a good fishing experience), you must accept the following fishing rules:

1. ANGLER'S RESPONSIBILITY

Anglers are responsible for familiarizing themselves with and following applicable laws and regulations. Public laws and regulations can be found HERE.

2. FISHING SEASONS

The fishing season for the Håelva River is from June 15th to September 20th. Fishing is allowed 24 hours a day, from 00:00 to 23:59.

3. DOCUMENTATION

To fish in the Håelva River, you must be able to present valid identification, a receipt for payment of the state fishing fee, a valid fishing license, and a receipt for disinfected equipment upon request. The fishing license is personal, valid for one rod, and cannot be transferred to others.

The license holder is responsible for catch reporting, and the daily quota (3 salmon) applies to the fishing license:

For all types of licenses,

ONLY ONE ANGLER PER DAY is allowed.

Exception to the rule: Children/youth up to 16 years old can fish for free with their guardians on their license, but the total quota on the license (ref. point 6) must be observed. The rule for free fishing ONLY applies when guardians are present. Children or youth who want to fish alone without guardians must purchase a fishing license regardless of age.

4. PREVENTION OF FISH DISEASES

Preventative measures against fish diseases: Equipment disinfection - rods, lines, hooks, knives, waders, and boots MUST be disinfected when used in other watercourses. Dead fish should be removed from the river to avoid infection. Do not gut fish in the river. All transport of fish, water, plants, etc. from one watercourse to another is prohibited.

5. FISHING GEAR

Allowed fishing gear includes fly fishing rod, lure, spinner, wobbler, and bait which can be used in combination with sinkers.

6. FISHING QUOTA

The daily quota for salmon in Håelva is 3 fish. Sea trout is completely protected and must be returned to the river. The quota is personal and follows the fishing card day. When a fisherman has reached the daily quota, fishing must stop. Salmon that have undeniable external characteristics of being escaped farmed salmon and winter-run fish are not counted in the quota. However, farmed salmon that are caught must still be reported and delivered to the supervisor.

7. HOOKING BAN

It is not legal to fish in a way that results in fish being hooked incorrectly. If a fish is hooked and this is due to the method or location of the fisherman, fishing must be immediately discontinued.

Definition of incorrect hooking: If the hook is not in or immediately near the jaw of the caught fish.

Incorrectly hooked fish count towards the daily quota but must be immediately returned to the river.

8. MINIMUM SIZE AND WINTER-RUN FISH

Salmon under 35 cm must be returned to the river (do not count towards the daily quota). It is also not allowed to catch winter-run fish of salmon and sea trout. If winter-run fish are caught, they must be released as soon as possible with the least possible damage. It is encouraged that large female salmon, spawning-colored fish, and salmon with a blue mark on the dorsal fin are also returned to the river.

9. MOBILE FISHING

All fishing must be done mobile downstream if multiple fishermen are at the same spot. If one has been in the same spot for a while (max 20 min) and a new fisherman arrives, the spot must be vacated in favor of the new fisherman. However, the new fisherman must always start fishing above other fishermen. Behave by the river the way you want others to behave towards you.

10. CATCH REPORTING

All catches must be reported, including zero catches and released fish. Failure to report on the previous card can result in being blocked from purchasing new cards, and failure to report in the past can lead to being expelled from the river.

11. SHELL SAMPLES

We encourage taking shellfish samples from caught fish above the minimum size. You can get shellfish sample bags and guidance on sampling from the supervisor and at designated shellfish sampling stations along the river. Shellfish samples provide important information about the fish's life cycle, how old the fish is, how old it was when it left the river, etc. It is also the easiest method for distinguishing wild salmon from escaped farmed salmon and therefore provides useful information about the proportion of farmed salmon in the river.

12. ZONE LIMITS

Respect the current zone limits. It is forbidden to fish upstream or downstream in the next zone. Information about zones can be found on the map.

13. ACCESS AND USAGE RULES

Show respect for the property of landowners, do not trespass on cultivated land, and clean up after yourself. Park in designated areas, see map. Use stiles and marked fishing paths. Travel along the river should, as much as possible, take place along the riverbank and on marked fishing paths.

14. SUPERVISION

Respect the supervisors. The supervisors in the river will provide information about fishing rules and ensure they are followed, and thus contribute to everyone having the best possible fishing experience in Håelva. It is encouraged to notify the supervisors about irregularities and suspected fish diseases by phone. In addition, landowner associations and card sellers would like to be contacted about suggestions for improvements, so send us a message.

15. CONSEQUENCES OF VIOLATING THE RULES

The supervisors are obligated to report to the board of the landowner associations and card sellers about violations of fishing rules. In such cases, the supervisor shall provide a written warning and may also expel the fisherman from the river. In case of incorrect parking, a warning note may be attached to the windshield. Violating the rules may lead to being banned from fishing and possible police report.

16. RESERVATIONS

Before July 15th, a "Mid-Season Evaluation with Pre-Agreed Measures" shall be carried out. In the event of failing salmon run midway through the season, fishing may be regulated with changes to daily quota, fishing gear, and fishing times. The card seller is not financially liable for any changes, and purchased cards will not be refunded.